R-selection, and food shortages~

[hellocubed]

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EK Bio notes that food shortages and droughts promote r-selected species.

How is this possible? Considering r-selection has a much higher number of offspring than k-selection, you would think that k-selection would be supported when there is limited resources.

 

[MedPR]

The main idea behind r-selection is to make as many offspring as possible in an attempt to get some to survive. The goal isn't to get all 10^6 offspring to survive, but to put out 10^6 offspring because a greater number are bound to survive compared to putting out only 10 offspring.

It's kind of like an essay exam. If you have no idea how to answer a question, but you know the teacher gives partial credit, you're going to write down every single related thing you can think of just to maximize your points even though you have no clue what's going on.

 

[hellocubed]

But it would make more sense to have just 8 mouths to feed, rather than 100 offspring competing for the same resource, and effectively lowering the fitness of the entire population...

 

[MedPR]

But it would make more sense to have just 8 mouths to feed, rather than 100 offspring competing for the same resource, and effectively lowering the fitness of the entire population...

But r-selectors don't care for their offspring; R-selectors are essentially baby factories.

 

[hellocubed]

Sorry i mean

But it would make more sense to have just 20 competing for scarce food, rather than 100 offspring competing for the same resource, and effectively lowering the fitness of the entire population...

 

[MedPR]

Sorry i mean

But it would make more sense to have just 20 competing for scarce food, rather than 100 offspring competing for the same resource, and effectively lowering the fitness of the entire population...

Yes maybe, but r-selectors don't share the same opinion.

 

[Morsetlis]

Yes maybe, but r-selectors don't share the same opinion.

Their offsprings are geared to be cheap to produce but with vast growth rates. Thus, you start off with a low food investment, but through the acquisition of food, quickly reach adulthood and breeding age to pass on the gene.

Mice have 5-15 pups at once, and older siblings can eat younger siblings, or the mom can eat the pups if they are too annoying.

(My stupid mice colonies.)